Meeting more enlightened people and vegans

The last two weeks have been interesting and I am not surprised because the New Year is right here, okay around the corner.  I have met people a few miles from my house  that practice Vipassana, and I have sat and meditated with them, I have met a person  who is on their way  to discovering Vipassana and I met a Vegan who is raising her son from day one as a vegan.  I am thankful for these moments.

New vegan restaurant in town

Interior back seating

Almost all raw vegan cookie

California Wrap

Spicy Walnut Pate

Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Choices Cafe  in the Brickell Area of Miami is now occupying the same space as the previous tenant of vegetarian and vegan fare, Om Garden  (more info see www.vegguide.org).  The food is good and priced right..definitely a must try.

Kind to the Earth :makeup tip

So..  I decided to ditch my store bought makeup remover.  There had to be something else  more inexpensive and better for my skin..  I found it in my kitchen.  I got my cotton square and poured my Olive oil on it and it worked fabulously.  Then I washed my face as usual,  and viola  clean face...no extra money..and it doesn't take much on the cotton square to remove mascara and makeup from both eyes.  Try it and tell me how it worked for you.

Vipassana Experience Part 6

In this video, I talk about the Vipassana "Voodoo" as I like to call it. Something interesting happened to me while I was there. I definitely noticed it. The energy...the nature really effected me.

Vipassana Experience Part 5

In this video, I explain, the time up to when I leave. It was a Mr. Toad's wild ride of sorts.

Vipassana Experience Part 4

Vipassana is seeing reality as it really is. During my experience I had heart palpitations that really shook me and took me by storm. I was unable to gain an equanimous mind during my course meditation because of this. Now I understand why visualizing doesn't work during Vipassana. Visualizing while meditating is relaxing, Vipassana is not about relaxing at all.

Vipassana Experience Part 3

Days 1-3. One of the things that I started to hear a lot after day three is that things can change fast and that accepting them.. not craving what you had in the past or want in the future is key to your success.

Vipassana Part 2

Here is my video for part 2 of what happened at the Vipassana course I went to in July.

My Vipassana Experience - initial feelings

This is a video I made after coming back from my Vipassana experience in July 2011.  It is was not what I expected to be feeling  and I learned early on in the course that changes can happen very quickly there.  My experiences  were all over the place  from realizations, to sleep deprivation, to extreme heart palpitations (which I read that a girl died at Vipassana because of heart problems.)  In the end,  I see a few subtle changes.  It was a difficult experience and one that I would not endure again because of my circumstances.  One thing is for sure, I have begun to walk down the path of enlightenment and it may take some more lifetimes to come closer to the true peace it provides. There are several stories to be told from my experience.  I will start by linking the post to my video  which is extreme and about the heart palpitations and how they made me feel or rather how I reacted to having them.

My dream: dolphin

July 4th, I woke up and I remembered part of a dream I had.  I was walking and I saw this opening in a building and there was a big pool, only the pool  was a huge rectangle yet looked more like a pond because the sides were green with algae and it was brown and black at the bottom,  it was really deep.  I walked closer and I saw something in the water, at first I thought it was a shark.  The next thing I know I am in the water, not in a swimsuit in my clothes  holding on to the edge.  (Just a note:  in regular life I don't like to go into the water  let alone into deep waters)  The something in the water started coming toward me.  The water isn't actually clear  so I don't see what it is until it gets real close.  I am not scared.  It surfaces  right next to my face. It is a dolphin.  I ask the dolphin, " May I touch you?"  I touch the dolphin and he/she turns around quickly and shows me his/her back.  I ask, " You want me to ride you?"  I get on the dolphin's back  and he/she takes off real fast.  I remember smiling.  I decided to look up the symbols on dream dictionary.

Dolphins

To see a dolphin in your dream, symbolizes spiritual guidance, intellect, mental attributes and emotional trust. The dream is usually an inspirational one, encouraging you to utilize your mind to its capacity and move upward in life. Alternatively, it suggests that a line of communication has been established between the conscious and unconscious aspects of yourself. Dolphins represent your willingness and ability to explore and navigate through your emotions.

To dream that you are riding a dolphin, represents your optimism and social altruism.

Link to Dream Moods Dictionary

Pool

To see a pool of water in your dream, indicates that you need to acknowledge and understand your feelings. It is time to dive in and deal with those emotions. Alternatively, a pool indicates your desire to be cleansed. You need to wash away the past.

Link to Dream Moods Dictionary

Today is my last day home before I go to my Vipassana course.

Vipassana Boot Camp or Ticket to Liberation: England Experience

Reading the details in this blog  has hopefully prepared me for the "unexpected"  that is really expected in this journey.  Here is the link.

Vipassana experience- India posted Feb 2011

This is one of the videos I have been searching for. I am so thankful that people are posting videos to spread the word of this experience for those of us who have an interest, are going, and for those who have already had the experience.

Vipassana - Road to Vipassana- my experience- Packing for Georgia

Here is my packing video.  See you in about 20 days.

Scrapbooking: Layouts with Basic Grey

Created for Everything Scrapbook and Stamps, these layouts were inspired by the stickers that come as part of the theme for "Oxford."

Vipassana Experience -June 2011- Thailand

She is so funny. I wonder what precepts she broke.

Vipassana- Road to Vipassana- Introduction to my journey

Vipassana Experience- England

Dawn Wrote about her Vipassana Experience in February 2011.  She explains her experience as well as the center she went to in three parts.  Here is a link to her writing.

Vipassana Experience

I was searching again for any new experiences and I came across this PDF on the internet.  I really appreciate how detailed the writer was in describing her experience and how it really is like on a Vipassana meditation course. Here is the link.

Noise after the silence- Vipassana experience video

Vipassana Experience video series

I just found someone who posted a complete series on the Vipassana experience.  This is a thorough explanation.


click here to go to the YouTube video for some reason, the embedding option didn't work today.

Vipassana Experience posted in January 2011

Vagabonding Alex has a story to tell and I am glad he did.  To read his Vipassana experience  click here

Vipassana- May experience 2011

I am beginning my last round of research before I attend the Vipassana course myself.  I will be doing a series of videos  on my experience.  I printed out my list of things to bring today and the directions and Thursday  I begin the packing and my first video. Here is a link to a recently blogged experience.

Will turning Vegetarian save the planet?

Living in this society under its rules and still doing what I feel is good for me is something I learned early on.  My choices open themselves up to me like doors and I walked through.  This is how I truly made the switch to being a vegetarian three years ago and I feel better and happier now than I ever knew was possible, but here it is my life, happy, no drugs, no pills..all energy and sometimes a little bit of sugar.

Here is an article to explain why becoming a vegetarian (by the way  I am a non soy (or rarely soy) eating vegetarian)
makes this world a better place.  Will turning vegetarian save the planet?

One year ago today..

One year ago today, my bestfriend and I got married. Whatever it is we go through from grocery shopping to more serious stuff, the laughter is there around every corner. I learned that from my father, laughter is a key to bringing happiness now in this moment. I appreciated this. Today I am smiling knowing that I have prosperity and abundance and happiness in my life. Here is a sneak peek at my future projects.

Oh the FOOD....heaven is on a plate

My husband and I went to Mi Vida Cafe for my birthday. Raw Vegan Cupcakes Raw-k! Vegetarian and Vegan food is at is best that I ever tasted at this place. The owner and chef surprised me with putting a lit candle in my cupcake to celebrate my birthday.

I tried seitan for the first time.  I googled seitan and found vegetarian.about.com.

Seitan Sloppy Joe

This is what it said "Although it is made from wheat, seitan has little in common with flour or bread. Also called “wheat meat”, “wheat gluten” or simply “gluten”, seitan becomes surprisingly similar to the look and texture of meat when cooked, making it a popular meat substitute. Seitan is also high in protein, making it a popular protein source for vegetarians. Asian restaurants often use seitan as a vegetarian mock meat, and seitan is also the base for several commercially available products such as Tofurky deli slices."


Seitan tasted pretty good.  I don't know what meat tastes like anymore, so I cannot describe the taste.  The spices and everything make it amazingly flavorful. Definitely something to look into if you are thinking about becoming a vegetarian. I tend to stay away from any soy based products. To see more pictures go to their facebook page  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mi-Vida-Cafe-Vegetarian-Cuisine/195108577178981

Breathing

Breath is so important in our lives. Without breath, there is no life. This is so universal and undeniable. Please take a moment to remember to breathe from the belly.

10,000 steps a day for 40 days

I saw this program at work, but they are doing it for 8 weeks. I know that a change can be made in your life if you do something for 40 days, so I am on day 2 successfully completed
another 10,000 steps. I am grateful for the ability to walk.

Happiness and the Aquarian Age

Gurmukh has such a wonderful way.  Yogis are like that though.  Many of us aspire to have this nature.  She speaks to me.

Scrapbook Layout - Echo Park

Another layout with the Echo Park papers.  The photo was take inside the restaurant  from my previous post.

Scrapbook Layout- Echo Park

This layout is for Everything Scrapbook and Stamps.  The Echo Park papers are vintage.  The photo is from my trip to Montreal, Canada.

Today

 A photo I took today,  I went to the local park with my husband.

40 days: 11 minutes

Last night I completed 40 days of meditating for 11 minutes a day. I was teaching myself to learn to sit still and train myself not react to physical stimulus, which can be a challenge when your leg is twitching. I am now going to extend my meditation time. I am thankful for having the time to focus on this and learn. It really calms my mind and helps me to sleep soundly.

Vipassana Expereience- Malaysia

Here is a detailed account of a Vipassana Experience in three parts. It was blogged on April 12, 2011

Here is a link to the first blog entry:

http://exploreforayear.com/travel/vipassana-first-days-silence-torture

Featured Photographer on Urbanspoon

I got the email today that I am a featured photographer on the urbanspoon blog.

here is the link: http://www.urbanspoon.com/blog/61/A-Feast-for-the-Eyes.html

Vipassana- A video clip of SN Goenka

uploaded June 28, 2010

Vipassana- Australia

He talks about the sitting positions and how the experience is really a personal individual experience. This is a video posted on January 23, 2011.

Vipassana Experience - Hong Kong

Here is a link to a blog about a Vipassana experience in Hong Kong.  I really enjoyed reading all the details of her experience. She shows you the schedule and goes through her days..day by day. I hope you can get some insight  about this insight meditation process through reading her blog posts (January 28, 2008).  Here is the link.

Vipassana - New Zealand Video Pre and Post Experience

He talks about dealing with the things you don't like about yourself.  I can only imagine  how this technique would  "instantly"  improve your self-esteem.

Vipassana Experiences- Colorado

Here is a link to a Vipassana experience in Colorado.  The writer  did some meditating  but goes on to explain  how this does not prepare you for the long sits.  Here is the link.

Vipassana- Experiences with a sense of Humor

Start Again


The Vipassana Rap- I thought this was super funny

Vipassana - Onalaska, Washingston, Northwest Vipassana Center

Here is a list of experiences:

1. Aron -if you have anxiety attacks you might related to this one.
2. Musings of a seeker 2009- very detailed
3. YouTube pre - experience video (February 23, 2011)
   
   
   
   Here is the pre-experience blog post (same person as above video)
   Here is the Vipassana experience blog post (same person as above video) March 2011

Vipassana - North Fork, California experiences

Here is a list of experiences  from those who attended a 10 day Vipassana course in North Fork, California.

Here is a link to the website in North Fork.

1. Experience from 2001
2. Experience from 2008 (pebblestorm) -includes a video
3. Experience from 2008 (projectfresh) - this was fun to read.
4. Experience from 2010 (tynan.com) - He only stayed three days.
   
   A short video from 2010
   
   

Vipassana - Jesup, Georgia , experiences

I am going to make alot of links here on my blog of  a list of experiences of those  who participated in a Vipissana Center Course in Jesup, Georgia.  I will add my experience to the end of the list as reference  after I go.


This is my experience from July 2011- initial feelings

1. This is an experience by Sensei Judy it is written conversational style almost like an interview. It is a conversation using emails put into a blog form.
2. This is a series of blog entries  by Karen.
• List of things to bring and prepare
• Registration day
• The schedule
• Second day
• Third day
• Fourth and Fifth day
• Overview of the experience
• Advice to cope during the experience

Link to the Jesup, Georgia Vipassana Center

Best ten days: Vipassana

If you haven't visited the channel these videos come from, please do. It is said that Vipassana is the best 10 days of your life.

Vipassana - Explanation

Vipassana is not a religious thing.  It is very scientific,  according to Goenka. The main purpose of the technique to bring peace to the individual.


Getting a better life and helping world peace are reasons  why I am so interested in Vipassana.

Application received-Vipassana Center Jesup Georgia

I received an email that my application was received and that it is in process.  Here is a video about Vipassana.

I have been going on YouTube to find out as much as I can. If this speaks to you, I hope you attend a retreat. Email me or leave a comment. Thank you.

Vipassana Application sent

I am so grateful for all the people in my life that allow me to be me  even though they don't understand me.  I came across the Vipassana Centers in my reading and I have the opportunity to go  so I applied and I am just going to have faith in my strength.  Most who know about  the 2012 awakening, know that meditation and ego releasing will be very important things to know and do and have.  I will be documenting my process as much as I can.  I have found few pictures of this site, here is a link to the webpage.

Video: New Favorite Song

My new favorite song!

Find more artists like JESSIE J at Myspace Music

Pink Shirt

Here is a picture of the pink shirt I refashioned in action.

New pIcture

An image of me today.

healing: wrist exercises

Free your Wrists from Pain I tried these free exercises a few months back and they work. If you are a crafter you might have wrist and hand issues. Please try these for a few days and see fabulous results. Happy Healing.

Tell the World Something Important

I saw this a few days ago on Piper Larson's blog and thought I'd share it with you if you haven't seen it.

sewing: refashion pink two peas in a bucket tee

This shirt was a two peas in a bucket shirt. I no longer go to crops  so I thought  I'd refashion it.  This design works well for flat chested individuals with thin waists. I have to get some to model it.

Scrapbooking

Oh like  I know,  I do still scrap.  Honeymoon picture from Montreal.  If you are a Project Runway  fan,  this is my interpretation of Andre flinging himself out those round rotating doors.

Weekend blogging

I have pretty much decided that I am scheduling most of my blogging for the weekend.  Next weekend, I already have two things to share.  NEW SCRAPPING  layouts!  and a refashioned-tee.

Thrive

I finally went to the restaurant T.H.R.I.V.E. here is the "tuna" wrap. In quotes because it is vegetarian. I love the atmosphere and I love the food. I am a vegetarian pate freak.

shopping: Loehmann's

Yesterday, I went to Loehmann's. I marveled at all the ruffles and roses and beautiful things. I have been looking for a backpack purse and I found one. They had workout wear on sale too. Got my coupon going back to look for something else.

sewing: zipper tutorial

Okay this is more like it. This is how you do a zipper.

sewing: not correct zipper

So here it is.. I kept telling the teacher the picture had an extra fold... it did on the left in the picture where the zipper is sewn on top-  that was suppose to be folded under to look like the right side.

No more sewing lessons (at least from this teacher)

I still have to take a picture of the nightmare zipper.  When I went to class I had pre-sewn  what I thought was right from the pattern instructions and it turned out to be incorrect, so I pulled it out and did it again.  When it came to do the zipper I was really trying to follow the instructions and the instructor insisted on doing it another way.. - the results are obvious. I didn't even know it so bad until I came home.  She was asking me to sign up for more classes at the end of class, but I declined.  I was so happy to show my husband my "not yet" pants when I came home. When I took out the basting stitches  there it was  - the step they I was trying to tell the teacher I saw - that she insisted otherwise not to do- was obvious missing. I feel blessed that  I didn't have any more hours that I pre-paid of sewing lessons left. I decided to go to YouTube U for sewing lessons instead.  Picture of the zipper coming tomorrow,

sewing: muslin

Today I am preparing my muslin fabric for washing.  I am going to sew my first muslin  in preparation to make a pair of gauchos.  I am using this fabric to practice and get the fit right  before I cut my "good" fabric.  Tomorrow I go to sewing class.

sewing: refashion shrug

This is me in my new shrug.  It doesn't have any closures though, so I don't know if it is technically a shrug.

So,  you have to imagine it the way I intended it to be worn.

For people who didn't read yesterday's post.  This white shrug is made from a white V neck tee, another white tee, and a white pillowcase. I technically don't know how to sew, I am just playing around with fabric and my machine and seeing where it takes me.

sewing: new refashion

OK  so what do you get when you take an old tight fitting v neck union bay white tee, a Ralph Lauren polo printed white  tee and a Ralph Lauren Pillow case  and combine it?  Re fashion Picture tomorrow.

Ayuvedic things to do to heal.

I am finding so many things easily when I search for answers.  I thought this might help you too on some level.  I definitely going to the beach this weekend.

Ayuvedic

I am starting to do part of this routine in my life.

THRIVE is my word for 2011

So  on December 26, 2010  I blogged my word for the year "thrive".  Yesterday  I get a message in my email that a new vegan restaurant opened close to my house  (both my husband and I have been wishing for this) called T.H.R.I.V.E -  it stands for The Healthy Raw Inspired Vegan Experience.  Intention working at its best.

sewing: refashion long sleeved shirt

Here is my refashion of my Ali Edwards shirt. (before photo is in a previous post) I cut off the front to get rid of the "life artist" writing on the front and replaced it with the front and back of another tee shirt, gathering it at the top.  It is so comfortable, like wearing pj's. This photo also shows my haircut.  I cut it shorter than I had it before.

sewing and stuff: Today

Listening to the peaceful sounds of the birds and silence, sitting here drinking tea and composing this,  I am grateful.  This is simple, easy, wonderful to me.

I am looking over my shoulder at my shirt I still need to take a picture of, and I still have to go to the store to buy the matching thread...it's okay.  it'll get done when it gets done.

I have been reading about cloth and about fashion history.  I am looking for a fashion history book that is written like a magazine.  I love magazines and find the format so pleasing because I am a visual learner and love pictures.

sewing: refashion

The life artist shirt from the picture in the previous post  is now refashioned..  I just have to figured out one detail and I will post a picture. I kept the sleeves, the neck, and the back of the original shirt intact.

sewing: me and my dressform

This is my dressform.  I have an Ali Edwards shirt that I no longer wear. I am probably going to refashion it very soon.

sewing: stitching for the wash

I am preparing to sew more so I am stitching the ends of fabrics that might unravel.  Now  I am going to throw the yardage in the wash.

sewing: completed shirt

Here it is!  My completed shirt. The hems on the sleeves aren't sewn  I chose to leave them unfinished.  I forgot to get a picture of the back detail.  I wore the shirt yesterday and it was quite comfortable (it is made of knit fabric), just don't get close enough to see the stitches.